Andrew Marc Names Charles M. Jayson Chief Executive Officer; Former Dickson North America Chief To Lead Growth and Expansion of Andrew Marc Brand.

NEW YORK -- Designer brand Andrew Marc today announced that it has named Charles M. Jayson ("Chuck") as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Jayson will lead the Company's growth and expansion in its core outerwear businesses, while developing new product categories and markets in order to transform the company into a global lifestyle brand.

Mr. Jayson most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dickson North America where he held investment and distribution activities. Mr. Jayson was also responsible for introducing U.S. companies to international markets such as Southeast Asia and China. Mr. Jayson brings extensive expertise in building world-class consumer brands including, "OSCAR" by Oscar de la Renta, Bertolucci, the Switzerland-based luxury Watch and Jewelry Company and Tommy Hilfiger Handbags and Accessories.

Founder Andrew Marc Schwartz, who will become Chairman of the Board said, "We welcome Chuck to the Andrew Marc team and are thrilled to have attracted such strong industry talent. Through his leadership, we are now poised to realize the full potential of the brand and I look forward to working closely with him."

Suzanne Schwartz, Executive Vice President who leads Design, Merchandising and the Imagery of the Andrew Marc brand said, "Chuck's understanding of upscale consumers, products and brands is the perfect fit for Andrew Marc. His leadership and expertise creates even more exciting opportunities for Andrew Marc."

Mr. Jayson will work closely with both Andrew and Suzanne Schwartz, together with their investment partner, GB Merchant Partners, a division of Gordon Brothers Group.

Mr. Jayson said, "I am pleased to have the unique opportunity to lead the Andrew Marc businesses. Andrew and Suzanne have done a terrific job creating an important business that is relevant, aspirational, trend right with high standards. Andrew Marc possesses strong brand recognition on balance with a forward sense of style. This long-sustained positioning in upscale leather and outerwear products provides a natural foundation for expansion into handbags, footwear and accessories. The company's developed manufacturing base will well support further upscale and luxury products within the outerwear and other key categories consumers have requested from Andrew Marc for years."

Mr. Jayson continued, "Andrew Marc is well respected by upscale retailers and their customers. We look to increase fashion forward luxury products within the Andrew Marc Collection, while continuing to bring trend right, high quality and wonderful value through the Marc New York business. Our Dockers and Levi's outerwear businesses allow for expanded distribution, adding to the company's significant buying power. Together with our investment partner, GB Merchant Partners, we have the necessary funding to fully develop all aspects of our businesses, while exploring strategic acquisitions that will be synergistic to the group."

Mark Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Gordon Brothers Group which owns GB Merchant Partners, said, "We are making tremendous progress in expanding the Andrew Marc brand into new categories. Based on Chuck's successful track record in building leading upscale luxury brands throughout the world, we are confident that Chuck, Andrew and Suzanne are the right management team and have the financial resources in place to lead Andrew Marc through this exciting expansion period for the company.

About Andrew Marc: Andrew Marc is a leading designer brand and manufacturer of exclusive men's and women's leather and cloth outerwear. Andrew Marc Schwartz founded the Andrew Marc brand in 1980. His wife Suzanne joined the company in 1983. Over the years the company has built a strong reputation among its diverse retail customers for its stylish integration of quality design and accessibility. The company markets its products under the Andrew Marc and Marc New York brand names and holds licenses with Levi's & Co. to market leather and wool outerwear under the Dockers name, as well as leather and cloth outerwear under the Levi's Red Tab and Levi's Premium brand names.

About GB Merchant Partners: GB Merchant Partners, a division of Gordon Brothers Group, focuses on principal equity and structured debt investments, primarily in the consumer product and retail sectors. GB Merchant Partners equity investments are typically made in partnership with quality management to fund growth strategies or finance a restructuring. Target companies typically have meaningful brand equity or a product or service capable of creating a leading and defensible market position with the strategic assistance of Gordon Brothers Group. Gordon Brothers Group (www.gordonbrothers.com), which was founded in 1903, provides customized global advisory, acquisition, disposition and capital services to client companies. The firm is headquartered in Boston and has twenty offices worldwide.